. . . for the most part. The US Catholic bishops’ pastoral letter, “Marriage: Love and Life in the Divine Plan,” which is to be voted on in November, still contains doctrines objectionable to Lutherans, notably that marriage is a saving Sacrament. (Lutherans recognize only two Sacraments imparting forgiving grace: Holy Baptism and Holy Communion, although Absolution is often referred to as a Sacrament. Lutherans don’t quibble about the number of Sacraments.)
Yet, the bishops are to be commended for presenting a clear teaching about the institution of Holy Matrimony, particularly in our day and age when it, in the minds of many, has become just a legal recognition of sexual pleasure and a reduced tax bill.
Here are a few quotes:
While marriage is a special blessing for Christians because of the grace of Christ, marriage is also a natural blessing and gift for everyone in all times and cultures. It is a source of blessing to the couple, to their families, and to society, and includes the wondrous gift of co-creating human life.
Marriage is a lifelong partnership of the whole of life, of mutual and exclusive fidelity, established by mutual consent between a man and a woman, and ordered towards to the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring.
The Church has taught through the ages that marriage is an exclusive relationship between one man and one woman. This union, once validly entered and consummated, gives rise to an indissoluble bond that cannot be dissolved by the spouses. Marriage thus created is a faithful, privileged sphere of intimacy between the spouses that lasts until death.
Marriage has two fundamental ends or purposes towards which it is oriented, namely, the good of the spouses as well as the procreation and education of children. Thus, the Church teaches that marriage is both unitive and procreative/educative, and that it is inseparably both.
You can link to a PDF of the bishops’ statement at Ignatius Press’ blog, the Insight Scoop.
